On 23 August 2023, UNU-IAS hosted an event in Kanazawa City, Japan on the theme “Enhancing Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation through Local Engagement”. Featuring special guest Youssef Nassef, Director of the Adaptation Programme at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat, the event highlighted efforts of Ishikawa prefecture to achieve the SDGs and conserve satoyama and satoumi landscapes.
Discussing local sustainability initiatives, Dr Nassef emphasised the importance of long-term solutions that promote a harmonious relationship with nature, such as socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS). Juan Pastor-Ivars (Research Associate, UNU-IAS) introduced the Sustainable Urban Nature project, and underlined the significance of traditional Japanese gardens as biodiversity hotspots.
In closing, Shen Xiaomeng (Vice-Rector in Europe, UNU and Director, UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security) and Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi (Director, UNU-IAS) shared their impressions from a field visit to satoyama and satoumi sites in Ishikawa. The event was organised by the UNU-IAS Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa.
